The Western men had requested Baba to have their photograph taken with him, so Bhaiya Panday was called from Ahmednagar, and at 2:30 on the afternoon of the 24th, Baba returned to the hill, where a few group shots were taken.
John Bass, Ben Hayman, Charles Purdom, Malcolm Schloss, Fred Winterfeldt, Frank Hendrick, Will Backett, Bill Le Page, Francis Brabazon, John Ballantyne, Joseph Harb, Fred Frey, Lud Dimpfl, Dana Field, Fred Marks, Darwin Shaw, William Donkin (behind), Philippe Dupuis, Frank Eaton
At 2:45 P.M. Baba led the Westerners down the hill and into mandali hall.The mandali were also called.Baba asked Vishnu to read Dasavatar (The Ten Incarnations).The following is an excerpt:
I bow down to the Incarnation of Kalki , who is yet to come in this terribly sinful Kali Age; who is devoid of all religious rituals such as sacrifices; who will be riding a white horse; who will have a destructive sword in his hand; and who will cause the destruction of the multitude of wicked non-believers.
After this reading, Baba Sastri of Andhra sang some shlokas in Sanskrit from the Bhagavad Gita in which Krishna says: "Age after age, from time immemorial, for the destruction of ignorance, for the preservation of Truth, I have taken human form."
“”
When he had finished Baba remarked, "You speak as if you are swimming in mid-ocean, attacked by sharks!"Baba wryly observed, "I have created everything, and yet I do not know Sanskrit. I just nod my head as if I understand."
Baba asked Sidhu to sing a ghazal, which he did with the varied appropriate expressions and gestures.Baba translated its meaning:
One who loves cannot talk about loving, and my Beloved seems not to care for me.
When my heart was drawn by the locks of my Beloved's hair, I thought the locks were very near;
But now I have walked all my life until my feet are full of blisters, and they are still far from me.
“”
Baba added, "Baba also is so near, and yet so far!"
Sidhu continued the ghazal, which translated as: "When the lips of separation tried to touch the cup of Union, hundreds and hundreds of lovers were burned!"
At this line Baba applauded.
At about 4:00 P.M. Baba then led the group to the dhuni where the Arangaon lovers had gathered and Sidhu had kept a pile of sandalwood shavings and ghee.Baba lit the dhuni, and the villagers, after singing his arti, garlanded him.An elderly man mounted the platform and blew on an elephant horn.
lighting the dhuni, 24 September 1954
Singing and dancing, the villagers took Baba to the village in a procession.Echoes of Baba's Jai! resounded the entire way.Men, women and children who had been waiting by the road rushed to Baba, touched his feet and applied the dust under his feet to their foreheads.
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